UTMB changes lottery system to favour multiple entries; lowers points requirements and introduces ‘running stones’
- The famous race in Chamonix has reduced the number of ITRA points needed for each race
- Runners who fail to win a space in the lottery double their chances the next year
- By collecting enough ‘running stones’, hopefuls can bypass the lottery all together if they have enough ITRA points
As of 2020, runners who are unsuccessful in the lottery for places in the race improve their chances of winning a spot the following year by gaining ‘tickets’.
“The probability of being selected is therefore proportional to the number of times a runner has failed to gain entry in the previous years,” the UTMB said.
The chances of being picked double the second year you enter, then triple the subsequent year.
Tickets can be accumulated and the runner can take a pause for one year, without losing the lottery advantage. Tickets are valid for life and only expire when the runner is finally successful.
The organisers added there are two exceptions: those that fail in 2019 and 2020 are guarantee a spot in 2021 if they still have not won a place (as per the current rules). Secondly, finishers of 130-kilometre race at the Ushuaia by UTMB in South America, and the 130km and 160km races at the Oman by UTMB will automatically gain a spot at the UTMB in Chamonix, even if they compete before the 2020 launch date.
